Dolphins finally get their day

Tuesday

Aug 20, 2013 at 12:01 AM

A stately start to these random thoughts for a Tuesday:

Bob Highfill

A stately start to these random thoughts for a Tuesday:

» The 1972 Miami Dolphins, the only team to go an entire NFL season undefeated, will be honored today at the White House. The Dolphins' vaunted "No Name Defense" was their strength that season and the unit included former Lincoln High and Pacific tackle Bob Heinz, who now lives in the Bay Area. Said former Dolphins head coach Don Shula: "It is a very special occasion and I know it's something that all of us will enjoy and remember." Better late than never.

» Three cars were engulfed in flames and destroyed and several more were damaged by radiant heat when a car parked near a hot barbecue grill in Lot A at the Coliseum in Oakland caught fire Saturday while the A's were hosting the Indians. No injuries were reported. Tailgating gone wild.

» The 49ers can expect to see Vikings running back Adrian Peterson when the teams meet Sunday in a preseason game at Candlestick Park, according to reports. Of course, that all could change. Peterson hasn't taken a snap thus far in the preseason. He didn't play at all in the preseason last year as he recovered from a knee injury, yet he led the league in rushing with 2,097 yards.

» D.J. Hayden, the Raiders' first-round draft pick this year, had to feel good shedding his red "no-contact" jersey in practice now that he has been cleared to go full bore. The former University of Houston cornerback suffered a near-fatal chest injury his senior year and his performance this season could be one of the real feel-good stories of the year.

» Kings guard Ben McLemore recently claimed he will be the 2013-14 NBA Rookie of the Year. Not necessarily a brash statement coming from a top-5 pick, but he went further, saying he will be the Kings' "alpha dog and win that Rookie of the Year. I'm definitely going to work hard to get that." Sacramento's most recent NBA Rookie of the Year was guard Tyreke Evans in 2009-10. Evans signed a four-year, $44 million contract with New Orleans this offseason.

» Today, the Ports begin their final homestand this season. They will play three games against the San Jose Giants, then four against the Visalia Rawhide before closing on the road with three games at Bakersfield and two at Modesto. Hard to believe the season is almost over.

» Forty-three. That's the point spread between seventh-place Dale Earnhardt Jr. and 15th-place Ryan Newman in the Chase for NASCAR Sprint Cup. Each driver in that range has a chance at qualifying, which should make for some excitement over the remaining three races before the Chase.

» Entering Monday, the Giants needed to win all of their remaining games to match last year's regular-season wins total. Jon Lester and the visiting Red Sox made sure that wasn't going to happen with a shutout to open their series at AT&T Park.